1956 Grand National

Last updated

1956 Grand National
Grand National
Location Aintree Racecourse
Date24 March 1956
Winning horse Flag of Ireland.svg E.S.B.
Starting price 100/7 [1]
Jockey Flag of England.svg Dave Dick
Trainer Flag of England.svg Fred Rimell
OwnerMrs. Leonard Carver
Conditions Good
  1955
1957  
External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Highlights of the 1956 Grand National (British Pathé)

The 1956 Grand National was the 110th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 24 March 1956.

Contents

It is probably best remembered for Devon Loch's sudden and inexplicable fall on the final straight, just 40 yards from a certain victory. The incident is almost always replayed during television build-up coverage on Grand National day.

Owned by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and ridden by Dick Francis, the well-fancied Devon Loch held a five-length lead over his nearest challenger, E.S.B., on the run-in to the finishing post, when he suddenly half-jumped into the air and landed in a bellyflop on his stomach, allowing E.S.B. to overtake and win. Although Francis tried to cajole the horse, it was unable to continue.

Finishing order

PositionName Jockey AgeHandicap (st-lb) SP Distance
01 ESB David Dick 1011-3100/710 Lengths [2]
02Gental MoyaGeorge Milburn1010-222/1
03Royal TanToss Taaffe1212-128/1
04Eagle LodgeAlan Oughton710-166/1
05Ken RoyalTim Molony810-828/1
06Martinique Stan Mellor 1010-040/1
07Carey's CottageBob Turnell910-1310/1
08ClearingJohnny Bullock910-166/1
09Wild WisdomLuther Bridge1110-166/1Last to Complete

Non-finishers

FenceName Jockey AgeHandicap (st-lb) SP Fate
01Early MistBryan Marshall1112-225/1Fell
01High Guard Arthur Thompson 911-122/1Fell
01MustBert Morrow810-107/1Fell
01Reverend PrinceMr C Pocock1010-540/1Fell
03No ResponseCathal Finnegan1010-150/1Fell
04Mariner's LogRene Emery911-1122/1Fell
11Merry WindsorLeo McMorrow810-1028/1Fell
12AthenianRex Hamey710-366/1Fell
18Border LuckMick O'Dwyer1110-066/1Refused
18M'as Tu Vu Arthur Freeman 1010-640/1Fell
19Dunboy IIBobby Brewis1211-066/1Fell
19PoloniusGene Kelly1010-366/1Refused
19DomataDerek Ancil1010-466/1Fell
21WittyPaddy Farrell1110-466/1Fell
22Sundew Fred Winter 1011-48/1Fell
22PippykinJimmy Power810-0100/7Refused
26Armorial IIIJack Dowdeswell710-1020/1Fell
26Much Obliged Michael Scudamore 811-050/1Fell
29OntrayDick Curran810-0100/6Fell
(Run-in) Devon Loch Dick Francis 1011-4100/7Slipped Up

[3] [4] [5]

Media coverage and aftermath

Aintree maintained a refusal to allow the race to be broadcast either live or delayed by any Television company, the BBC having submitted a request every year since 1946. However, The BBC's rights to broadcast the race live on radio remained in place, making this the twenty-fifth consecutive live coverage of the race since 1927. The race was broadcast live on the BBC Light Programme from 3pm with Raymond Glendenning calling in the winner while Michael O'Hehir and Peter O'Sullevan called the action out in the country. Claude Harrison, Bob Haynes, and Aubrey Renwick assisted by calling competitors that dropped out of the race. As per all previous years, part of the agreement to broadcast was that the copyright for the recording would be held by Tophams and not the BBC. [6]

E.S.B.'s jockey Dave Dick said of his unexpected win: "Devon Loch had me stone cold. I was a terribly lucky winner." Devon Loch's owner Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother famously said of the incident: "Oh, that's racing!" [7] [8] For jockey Dick Francis, his mount's bizarre collapse on the run-in to victory in the world's most famous steeplechase remained a "terrible memory, even after all these years." [9] Devon Loch's was not the first time a horse had seemed to jump some form of ghost fence on the run in of the National. In 1901, Arthur Nightingall's race was well won on board Grudon when his mount also made to jump a fence that wasn't there. On that occasion the pair recovered and had sufficient time to continue and win the race. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand National</span> English steeplechase horse race that takes place at Aintree Racecourse, Merseyside, England

The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse, Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap steeplechase over an official distance of about 4 miles and 2½ furlongs, with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps. It is the most valuable jump race in Europe, with a prize fund of £1 million in 2017. An event that is prominent in British culture, the race is popular amongst many people who do not normally watch or bet on horse racing at other times of the year.

Devon Loch (1946–1963) was a racehorse, which fell on the final straight while leading the 1956 Grand National.

The Aintree Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs, and during its running there are eleven hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in early April.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Grand National</span> English steeplechase horse race

The 2001 Grand National was the 154th official running of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 7 April 2001. It went ahead as planned, despite the cancellation of the 2001 Cheltenham Festival, caused by the foot-and-mouth disease crisis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Grand National</span> English steeplechase horse race

The 2002 Grand National was the 155th official renewal of the Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 6 April 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 Grand National</span> English steeplechase horse race

The 2000 Grand National was the 153rd official renewal of the Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree Racecourse in England on 8 April 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Grand National</span> English steeplechase horse race

The 1994 Grand National was the 147th official renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 9 April 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Grand National</span> Horse race held in 2011

The 2011 Grand National was the 164th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England.

The 1967 Grand National was the 121st renewal of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 8 April 1967. The race is best remembered for being won by outsider Foinavon at odds of 100/1, after being the only horse to avoid a mêlée at the 23rd fence and jump it at the first attempt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1985 Grand National</span> English steeplechase horse race

The 1985 Grand National was the 139th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 30 March 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Grand National</span> English steeplechase horse race

The 2012 Grand National was the 165th annual renewal of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase, which concluded a three-day meeting which is one of only four held at Aintree throughout the year, took place on 14 April 2012. The maximum permitted field of 40 runners ran the last 4 miles 856 yards (7.220 km) of Aintree's National Course featuring 30 fences, competing for record prize money of £975,000, making it the highest-valued National Hunt race in the United Kingdom.

E.S.B. was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his victory in the 1956 Grand National.

The 1965 Grand National was the 119th running of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 27 March 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Grand National</span> English steeplechase horse race

The 2013 Grand National was the 166th annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase, which concluded a three-day meeting, took place on 6 April 2013. The maximum permitted field of 40 runners competed for a share of the £975,000 prize fund, which made the National the most valuable jump race in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Grand National</span> English steeplechase horse race

The 2014 Grand National was the 167th annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase, which concluded a three-day meeting, took place on 5 April 2014. The maximum permitted field of 40 runners competed for a share of a record £1 million prize fund, which makes the National the most valuable jump race in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Grand National</span> Horse race held in 2015

The 2015 Grand National was the 168th annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase took place on 11 April 2015, the final day of a three-day meeting. A field of 39 runners competed for a share of the £1 million prize fund, and all returned safely to the stables following the race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Grand National</span> English steeplechase horse race

The 2017 Grand National was the 170th official running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase over a distance of 4 miles 514 yards (6.907 km) took place on 8 April 2017, the final day of a three-day meeting. A maximum field of 40 runners competed for a share of a prize fund of £1 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Grand National</span> 172nd Grand National horse race

The 2019 Grand National was the 172nd annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase was held on 6 April and is the pinnacle of a three-day festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Grand National</span> 173rd Grand National horse race

The 2021 Grand National was the 173rd annual running of the Grand National horse race, held at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England, on 10 April 2021. The event was once again sponsored by Randox Health, although the name on the race from this year onwards was shortened to simply "Randox". The total prize fund for the race was £750,000, down by £250,000 from the last meeting in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Grand National</span> 174th Grand National horse race

The 2022 Grand National was the 174th annual running of the Grand National horse race. It took place on Saturday, 9 April 2022, at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. The event was sponsored by Randox Health.

References

  1. "Aintree Grand National Winners 1839 - 2014". racingbetter.co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  2. "1956".
  3. The Grand National : the history of the Aintree spectacular, by Stewart Peters & Bernard Parkin, ISBN   0-7524-3547-7
  4. "1956 - The Grand National & Aintree 1946-1959". fiftiesnationals.webs.com. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  5. "Past Winners of The Grand National". grand-national.net. Archived from the original on 4 November 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  6. "Light Programme". Radio Times. Vol. 130, no. 1688. 16 March 1956. Racing. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  7. The Guardian (24 March 1956). "Devon Loch joins the great failures". London. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  8. Armytage, Marcus (6 April 2004). "Francis was victim of a great sporting calamity". Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 3 May 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  9. Hayler, Will (14 February 2010). "Scars of Devon Loch's Grand National never healed for Dick Francis". The Guardian. London.
  10. My racing Adventures, by Arthur Nightingall, published early 1900s, undated